Typhoon Dolphin forces evacuation of one million in Eastern China

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in Zhejiang with 151 km/h winds, forcing over one million evacuations
Wenzhou relocated 900,000 residents and Fujian moved 98,900 people from high-risk areas
Shanghai issued its first red rainstorm alert in 13 years with nearly 1,400 flights cancelled
The storm has been downgraded to a tropical storm but Level 3 alerts remain active
Dolphin previously affected Japan’s Okinawa and exacerbated flooding in the Philippines

Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year, has forced the preemptive evacuation of more than one million people across the country’s eastern coast. The storm made landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening with maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane.

Authorities relocated over 900,000 residents in Wenzhou alone, with another 98,900 people moved from high-risk areas in neighbouring Fujian province. Shanghai issued its first red rainstorm alert in 13 years, causing severe urban waterlogging in the French Concession and other districts. Nearly 1,400 flights were cancelled across Shanghai’s two main airports, while train, subway and ferry lines faced widespread suspensions. Shanghai Disneyland, Legoland and platforms along the Bund remain closed.

Meteorological bureaus have downgraded Dolphin to a tropical storm, but emergency Level 3 alerts remain active. Regional authorities continue to warn of torrential rains, flash floods and mudslides through Wednesday as the storm tracks northwest and inland. Heavy precipitation is expected across Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. Prior to hitting China, Dolphin brought destruction to Japan’s Okinawa prefecture and exacerbated fatal monsoon flooding in the Philippines. A strong El Niño pattern has significantly amplified the intensity of western Pacific tropical cyclones this season.

The Meteorological Bureau shared in a written statement “emergency Level 3 alerts remain active and regional authorities continue to warn of torrential rains, flash floods and mudslides through Wednesday as the storm tracks further northwest and inland.”